The points of issue
First edition, first printing, in green cloth with a pictorial dust jacket, with black-and-white photographic plates. Subtitled A Companion to the Landscape of Rhodes; a travel companion to the earlier Prospero's Cell. A US Dutton edition followed later.
Is this the true first?
UK Faber and Faber, London, 1953 is the true first. A first American edition was issued by Dutton.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Reflections on a Marine Venus a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First edition, first printing, in green cloth with a pictorial dust jacket, with black-and-white photographic plates. Subtitled A Companion to the Landscape of Rhodes; a travel companion to the earlier Prospero's Cell. A US Dutton edition followed later.
How do I tell the first printing from a later one?
Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention and confirm the points above. UK Faber and Faber, London, 1953 is the true first. A first American edition was issued by Dutton.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue.
I have a first edition of Reflections on a Marine Venus — what should I do?
If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque, any condition, and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. To sell, see the author's collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.